Hey there... hows it going? Hope you all are well!

First off, wanna say sorry for all the cuts in here to different scenes, but I tried to make them flow to the best of my ability.

Second, man has it been a long time since a chapter was released for this story?! Good to be back. :)

Lastly, ... I got nothing. ENJOY! HAHA!

"I'm starting to believe you don't know a woman's anatomy at all. I said to put your hand on my waist, not below my hip" Isabel managed to hiss through grinning teeth. She offered polite waves to the couples that passed in the ballroom and she made an effort to keep this private conversation low, but her face twitched as she felt a hand grope near her rear.

"My hands are rather large, so it is quite difficult to just grasp your waist." Issac gave her a once over and he narrowed his eyes, appearing to pout "there is so much lace, I cannot even be sure what I'm touching."

Her mask slipped for a moment as she brushed his hand with hers and with a sudden pinch, she yanked his hand up to her waist.

"Well here's a pointer. This is my waist, keep your hand there or I'll break it."

Issac snorted and tugged her close to his side as he made his way through the crowd. The venue was quite packed as all who were invited to the king's ball would never decline. The yearly party consisted of dancing, shows, and an endless banquet, so Isabel could understand the hordes of people milling about the room. It was an honor to receive such an invite, but from her perspective, she felt like it was interrogation. It was the king's way of keeping an eye on the successful business owners so he could cash in. She cursed him under her breath as she swiped a sweet from the banquet table and leaned into her companion.

"Where is his Majesty?"

Issac swept the room with his eyes and after a moment he pointed with his chin to the back left of the ballroom where a man was seated. Three guards in uniform stood around the man in his late thirties and each one kept watch from a different angle, so no one could approach unseen.

"Are you ready my lady?" Issac asked, glancing down at her again. She licked the excess icing from the sweet roll off her fingers and glowered at her gloved hand, holding it before her. The emblem was still there, as with the one on her stomach, but it was time to end this. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at the man with the crown.

"Take me."

Issac grinned and looked back up then, escorting her through the crowd and towards the king. Two guards saw them immediately and moved closer to the seated man. This drew the man's attention and he looked at him, recognition sparking beneath his orange-brown eyes.

"Oh, Mr. Petrarch, what a pleasure! And Miss Isabel Crane I presume?"

The man had golden ringlets that framed his face and stubble that clinged to his chin, affirming her opinion on facial hair, which she didn't care for. She forced herself to take a knee and bow before the man.

"Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you." Silence followed, but she remained in her hunched position until the king have a laugh.

"You may call me Charles, and please Miss Crane, get back on your feet. Never have I seen a lady of such high standing kneel before me. The crowd may get the wrong idea, my dear."

She was about to give a snide remark, but when she met the man's eyes she felt her anger bottom out. Gentle kindness reflected in his depths and she blinked several times in confusion, trying to rekindle her fire. It was only by Issac's hand that she stood again, the man having to lift her back to her feet.

"I took the liberty of offering her a job within the castle, as you had asked my king." Issac stated, giving a sideways look to the dumbstruck woman. However, she did not break her stupor.

"Oh, did you now? Splendid! What say you Miss Crane?"

No, this wasn't right. Uncertainty flooded her system and for the first time in years she wanted to flee. She didn't know how to react to this image of the king as she always imagined him as a spiteful repulsive creature, but that didn't seem the case. His eyes held a weight she didn't understand and he seemed so… approachable and caring. No, she refused this. She refused to believe he had a heart and a soul. Not after everything she had done to get as far as she had.

"I accept your offer humbly."

"Excellent!" Charles stood and moved to retrieve her hand "I shall have you start at once!"

Agony. Volcanic heat and piercing light consumed Cain and with each wave that raked against him, he found his body curling closer to his chest. He couldn't extend himself, as shadows were impossible to form within the spreading fire and each twitch to free himself resulted in scalding flesh. However, that didn't stop him from chuckling.

"You'll… exhaust yourself sooner or later… Lucifer." Through labored words, Cain threatened the demon he knew existed beyond the walls of flame. He would have to remain close to keep this amount of power flowing.

"Perhaps, but you'll be too damaged and at the brink of death before that time comes." The heat swirled and Cain roared as it crashed against his back. He could feel his skin blister and mend within seconds, only for the flesh to be burned yet again. His eyes narrowed, exhaustion filling him. How long had he been trapped within the ring of fire? His eyes could hardly decipher anything at this point, his deep maroons glazing over. The momentary blindness was nothing compared to constant agony rippling through his body.

"I shall ask again. Did you falsify a Faustian Contract, Cain."

Again, Cain mustered enough strength to shudder out a deep chuckle "you must of been spoiled at birth, always getting what you asked for."

A growl surrounded him and the flame drew near his face, making him jerk away. The motion caught his recently healed back aflame again and he closed his eyes to bare the consistent pain. The fire did not move away and forced him to remain in the piercing heat if he wished to spare his face.

"You waste my time, Cain. Give me an answer I can give to the immaculate and I shall end your suffering."

Cain's teeth sharpened and dug into his lips, shredding them almost instantly. Blood began to pour from the tattered flesh and dribbled down his chin.

"I am a demon, my existence is nothing but suffering."

Lucifer snarled and the heat swirled and brushed Cain's face "if you will not speak, then you will scream."

And scream he did. Fire licked beneath his chin and the flesh melted away within seconds. His eyes rolled up into his skull and familiar darkness filled his vision. How he missed his solitude. His quiet darkness. How he wished he could slitter across the floor and pour into some corner where he could lure some desirable morsel in.

The hunger was raging within him. The rapid healing came at a cost and he wasn't sure how much longer he would survive within his volcanic prison. He couldn't recall how long he had been in there, but he was sure it had been days. Lucifer would leave periodically, to eat Cain was certain. It was hard to tell time when your surroundings never changed.

The heat lessened and with a sigh and a quiver, Cain opened his eyes. The flame had moved back, but still crackled in a tight circle around him. Skin began to sluggishly sprout and crawl across the bleeding and exposed wounds. He ground out words, but they were impossible to understand.

"What was that?"

"Where… is Lara?"

Silence. The fire crackled low, but remained around him so no shadow could touch him.

"Is that why you are here?" Lucifer asked, his tone surprised.

Cain's nails raked the floor beneath him as he quivered to push himself up, but the claws just dug into the stone and ripped from his fingers causing him to wince.

"You burn down my house, steal my servant and prattle on about reasons why I came to visit you. No, Lucifer. I came here because I wanted to renovate your disgusting estate." Rage echoed his words and with a snarl he pushed himself onto his elbow. He glared into the swirled oranges and focused in on the faint form of the man beyond the fire.

"Steal? I stole Lara? You must be mistaken, she came here upon her own free will." Lucifer chuckled, and Cain watched as the demon reached up to stretch. "Might I also say that I don't recall burning down your estate, I believe I would remember wasting my time on such a childish ploy." He sighed and moved close, Cain almost able to make out his face.

"Cain, I have more important matters to attend too, so if you could be cooperate I would appreciate it. Even a demon has a pain threshold."

Cain scoffed and pushed himself upright. Now that most of his flesh was solid once more, he felt his anger rise "you do not frighten me, Lucifer. The immaculate have filed down your claws and have clipped your tattered wings. Burn me if you like, wound me if you must, but do not think for a second that I will tell you anything that does not concern you."

A snarl echoed through the room and the fire doubled in size. Large chunks split from the wall and reached out to blend into other strands until a cage like design formed above Cain. His vision was blurred, but there was no mistake that the manifestation was descending.

"Baal may not of been able to break you, Cain, but I will."

"What the hell?! How many dresses does his lady need?" Isabel cursed as she threw the fourteenth gown on the bed and slumped back in her chair. Sweat coated her brow and she reached up to wipe it away, but Issac beat her to it. With a handkerchief, he patted her forehead gently and gave her a gentle smile.

"You still have thirteen more, so get to work."

Isabel glared at him, wishing she could spit acid "why are you still here?"

Issac chuckled and folded the linen so he could pat her with a dry spot "because I fancy watching you work for once."

Isabel paused in sizing the fabric she had just grabbed as rage filled her "I've always worked, you imbecile."

"Perhaps you did some, but I can guarantee your demonic slave did most of your work." Issac moved to return to his seat, but instead of sitting across the room like he had been before, he dragged the chair over.

Isabel bit her lip and forced herself not to reply. Instead she took the dress up once more and began visualizing the detail. Fatigue was pulling on her to retire for the evening, but if she wanted to investigate, she had to finish her work. The sooner the better.

Hunger… Food…

Words rattled her mind and with a jump, her stomach growled its verbal warning. Great, now she had two irritating reminders.

"Make yourself useful and locate where the dining hall is. I won't be able to finish if I stop to have dinner, so you must bring it to me."

Issac blinked at her, obviously confused by her reply and a bit disappointed she had not fought with him. Regardless, he rose from his seat and approached the door.

"Any requests?"

Isabel looked up at him with a grin "yes, find out if the king is evil so I can strangle him with this dress."

"Such an odd request. I don't think they have frog legs within the castle walls, but I will ask." Issac smirked before closing the door behind him. A spool of thread sailed across the room and hit it as soon as it closed.

What are… frog legs?

"Oh hush you, mama's busy."

Time passed as she continued sewing. Issac at some point had reentered the room, but she had passively demanded that he feed her so she could focus. He had refused at first, but when she had neglected the food, he had sighed and begun to feed her as per request.

Gentle rays of the rising sun peeking beneath the drawn curtains and Isabel lifted the last dress with a sigh of relief.

"Finished… At last. Come Issac, we will explore now…" She rose from her seat and cursed from the cramps that screamed their protest at the sudden movement. The limbs pulsed as they returned to life and she glowered as she search for Issac. She shook her head when she found him and moved to lean over him.

He was sprawled out on her bed, sleeping like a child. His face looked so innocent as he slept and she wanted so badly punch him square in the nose for being an intolerable pest all evening, but she needed him. However, she also needed sleep. So she found could compromise both desires.

She climbed onto the bed and reached over him so she could get to the inside of the bed, as the cot was awfully close to the wall, and once there she sat up and put her feet on Issac's side. She smirked and pushed and away he went. He fell to the ground and with a curse he woke from his deep slumber.

"The hell Isabel?!"

"That's Lady Crane to you" she leaned over the bed side and smirked down at him. "This is my room. Beat it."

"And if I decline?" Issac rolled on his back so he could look up at her. She glowered and pointed at the door.

"Don't make me drag you."

"Do it."

"What?"

"Drag me."

"Shut up."

"No, do it or I shall continue talking."

"Issac-"

"You have beautiful eyes, they are even more lovely when you are enraged."

Isabel rolled over, vanishing from his sight.

"Oh? Are you done already? The day has only begun."

Silence.

"Isabel?"

Again, silence.

"Ib?"

Isabel was a blur as she jumped from the bed and sailed over him. She landed near his head and with a snarl she grabbed a handful of his hair and began to drag him out of the room rather easily. Issac reached back and grabbed her wrist but before he could do much of anything, he was tossed out of the room and the door slammed shut promptly after. He gawked at the door in complete shock and scrambled to his feet so he could pound on the door.

"My Lady, I don't quite understand what just-"

"LEAVE." A hiss and a thump from within was his only response. He looked concerned, but he didn't want to be caught lurking outside her door so he leaned in one last time.

"I'll retire for today. Send for me when you are ready to take a walk." He touched the wood one last time before departing.

Isabel sunk to the ground on the other side of the door and her body quivered and shook. She outstretched her hands and looked down at her palms. Where had that force come from? She had planned to just punch him, but before she knew what she was doing she was throwing him out of the room much like he was a irritating cat. He had seemed weightless and that was all kinds of wrong. She blinked at her gloved hand and with mild hesitation, she touched the material, scared to see what lay beneath. With a deep inhale, she pulled.

She gasped and her stomach dropped. What did this mean? It had never looked like this before, so why now?

"Cain…"

Sleep mama...

Exhaustion stung her senses and she knew she couldn't fight it any longer. Worry and anxiety dulled as her eyes drifted shut and her body fell to the ground. Her hand was last to fall and it did so palm up, revealing the seal of her contract, but it was much like it was written with pen instead of blood, as it was fading.

To be continued.

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See you all next chapter!